In our fast-paced working world where employees may or may not be in the same building, figuring out ways to establish connections is more important than ever — and it's simpler than we think. 

Employers have an essential role to play in creating and sustaining a caring work culture, from incorporating supportive benefits to practicing empathetic leadership. But day-to-day kindness among coworkers is pivotal to employee wellness, too. In addition to making the work experience more enjoyable, it improves outcomes — 94% of employees surveyed by onboarding platform Enboarder said they are more productive when they feel connected to colleagues.

"The workplace is very important to all of us in terms of it being a sense of connection and identity," says Dr. Kristin Tugman, VP of holistic wellness, health and productivity at Prudential. "But we get too caught up in all the goals we set out to accomplish from a business perspective and we forget about the human. How can we create a culture that is supportive of employees regardless of what's happening in their lives?"

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Small touchpoints go a long way in closing a connection gap. Tugman points to one of her studies, which looked at the return-to-work status of employees who had been out for at least 45 days due to a health condition. One respondent reported that though she had been with her company for 22 years, not a single coworker reached out to her during her absence. This, she said, prolonged her disability. Colleague connections are just as important as manager-employee connections, Tugman says.

"[We] don't always know what to say and what not to say," she says. "It's really just about, 'How are you? We're worried about you. We're here if you need us.' That can make all the difference."